(When) shall we talk: Mental depletion linked to decreased empathic accuracy in daily interactions between romantic couples

Abstract

Empathic accuracy (EA), the ability to accurately infer others’ thoughts and feelings, is critical for fruitful empathic exchanges in intimate relationships. Most EA research was limited in their real-life validity and actor-partner considerations. Since reduced mental resources have been linked to decreased judgment accuracy and reduced emotional expressions, we predicted that both actor’s and partner’s mental depletion would be associated with lower EA towards partners’ relationship appraisals and moods. We also investigated moderation by valence of mood and by gender. Additional analyses tested the presence of anchoring and how it related to mental depletion and EA. Eighty-seven heterosexual couples in Hong Kong (N = 174, M_age = 28.81) contributed baseline data and diary data over two weeks (totaling 2416 diary data points). Data were analyzed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Self and partner’s mental depletion was associated with decreased EA. The associations were stronger in EA for negative moods and in men’s EA for partner’s positive moods. Anchoring was present in the sample and correlated with higher EA but less mental depletion. Results offer insights into daily variations in EA and the dual process model of social cognition, and have implications for optimal communication timing.

Keywords

Empathic accuracy mental depletion daily diary method heterosexual romantic relationship gender

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